There is nothing worse for MAGA and conservatives than a butthurt RINO who got blown out during primary season. I give you Thomas Massie of Kentucky (what’s in the water there, by the way?).
War Secretary Pete Hegseth could face an impeachment vote within days as Massie moves to force the House to consider eight articles against one of President Donald Trump’s highest-profile Cabinet officials.
Massie, an outgoing Kentucky Republican and frequent Trump critic, is expected to reintroduce his impeachment resolution as early as Monday as Congress returns for its lame-duck session.
The move could restart a parliamentary clock requiring House Republican leaders to address the privileged resolution within two legislative days.
Speaker Mike Johnson and GOP leaders could allow a direct vote on impeachment or attempt to table the resolution.
Massie originally introduced the eight articles in September, but the House adjourned for its pre-election recess before lawmakers voted on them.
“I plan on introducing it Monday or Tuesday, as soon as we get back,” Massie said last week.
Massie has accused Hegseth of “high crimes and misdemeanors” involving the Iran war and several other military operations conducted during Trump’s second term.
Three articles accuse Hegseth of violating the 1973 War Powers Act by conducting military operations against Iran without congressional authorization. Most legal scholars, though, have argued that they don’t believe the legislation is even constitutional.
Other allegations involve civilian casualties during the Iran conflict, U.S. military operations against suspected drug-trafficking vessels, strikes in Yemen and the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
Massie also accuses Hegseth of improperly retaliating against Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona.
The allegations are Massie’s claims in the impeachment resolution and have been rejected by Hegseth and the Pentagon.
The effort gained significant momentum Sunday when House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries announced he would support it.
“I’m a hard yes on the Hegseth resolution,” Jeffries said on ABC’s “This Week.”
“The so-called secretary of defense has abused his power, undermined our national security, and engineered this reckless and costly war of choice in Iran, which has skyrocketed prices on the American people and made the country less safe,” Jeffries said.
“Pete Hegseth has got to go.”
Jeffries said House Democrats will discuss the resolution when the caucus meets Tuesday and predicted it would receive “incredibly strong support.”
Republicans still control the House during the lame-duck session despite Democrats winning the chamber in Tuesday’s midterm elections.
The GOP’s narrow majority, however, means only a small number of Republican defections could become decisive if Democrats remain largely united behind impeachment.
Massie has said he believes support has increased since the election.
“I give it better than a 50 percent chance of passing,” Massie told Roll Call before the midterms.
“Will all the Democrats vote for it? I think the answer to that is yes,” he continued. “And then the second question is, do I get a handful of Republicans?”
Some Republicans have publicly left open the possibility of supporting the effort.
Retiring Nebraska Rep. Don Bacon told ABC News he would listen to the debate before deciding.
“I will weigh the debate and make a decision,” Bacon said.
“I do think the secretary has made some bad mistakes.”
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer has declined to endorse impeachment while acknowledging there are “a lot of questions” surrounding Hegseth and the administration’s Iran strategy.
Trump, meanwhile, has strongly defended his defense secretary.
The president said last week that he has “every intention to keep” Hegseth at the Pentagon despite criticism following the midterm elections.
Hegseth has also vowed to remain in office and dismissed Massie’s impeachment effort as politically motivated.
“A disgruntled, defeated congressman, along with all his Democrat allies, has also dropped sham articles of impeachment against yours truly, just like they tried against President Trump twice,” Hegseth said Thursday.
“It’s all about the politics of personal destruction — didn’t work against President Trump, and it won’t work with me.”
The defense secretary is scheduled to hold a press conference Tuesday, his first in more than 180 days, as the impeachment fight intensifies.
Even if the House impeaches Hegseth, removal would require conviction by two-thirds of senators present during a Senate trial.
